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JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



ultimate success or failure in cultivation depends to a very large 

 degree upon the maintenance of a uniform humidity of the 

 atmosphere, or its absence. 



Formerly the cultivation of these plants in greenhouses was 

 in pots covered with frames or bell-glasses, the result of which, 

 with the moisture resting upon the surface of the glass, was 

 entirely to hide them from view unless the glass was removed — 

 a troublesome process which may well account for the neglect 

 hy cultivators of which we have spoken. All this is entirely 

 avoided when they are grown in such a house as has been already 

 described, the plants being at all times visible and presenting 

 themselves in all their elegance of form, delicacy of texture, and 

 varying shades of colour, as the fronds glisten with a moisture 

 reflecting silvery white or emerald green through the drops rest- 

 ing upon their surface. 



A still better mode of cultivating " Filmies," inasmuch as it 

 is a nearer approach to nature, is planting them out in what, for 

 the want of a better term, may be called an " underground 

 fernery." In this the object sought to be obtained is a similarity 

 of conditions to what may be found in the chinks of moisture- 

 laden rocks or cavernous recesses where these Ferns are found in 

 their native habitats. Many years ago my father constructed 

 such a house, in which these conditions were so nearly attained 

 as to give the appearance of a natural glen or grotto, in which 

 " Filmies " from regions far distant from one another, and vary- 

 ing much in temperature, have continued to thrive and form 

 masses of vigorous growth, which can scarcely be realised until 

 seen. Availing himself, for want of a better stream, of a little 

 land-drain some ten feet or so below the surface of the ground, 

 he dug out the earth on either side and round about in the form 

 of a winding glen, into which he built large stones or " rocks " 

 with as much irregularity of outline and variety of nooks, 

 crannies, and points as nature itself affords, with* this little 

 stream meandering over the rock-paved pathway into a pool at 

 the further end, and flanked by high " cliffs " to the roof. This 

 roof he formed of thick rough plate -glass placed flat upon iron 

 girders, so as almost entirely to escape observation. It was laid 

 scarcely below the level of the surrounding ground, and was 

 further obscured by canvas shading fixed on frames running east 

 and west, and slanting at an angle of 45° or more from north to 



